Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-15
HON. WEBB FINLEY.
The Gentleman from Smiti County
Gives His Reasons for Opposing the
Prohibition Amendment.
No Legislative Enactment or Constitutional
Provision should Drive Dat of Texas
au Important Industry.
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette. -
TYLER, lex, May 13.-Your Corre-
spondent to-day interviewed Hon. Webb
Finley upon the alI-absorbing topic of
prohibition. Mr.. Finley is one Of our
most prominent lawyers and ststesmen,
and his views will doubtless prove Of
much interest to the people of Texas.
Upon being asked for a statement OF his
views, Mr. Finley said:
at was announced in the Waco prohi-
ton convention, in its platform, that the
contest oyer the adoption Of this amend
ment would involve neither politics nor
religion, and therefore, under their view
of the matter, every citizen sieft free to
express his views and cast his
ballot uninfuenced by, eand with
out prejudice to his political
or religious affiliations, or preferences.
That is to say, every citizenis invited to
exercise his cool and unbiased judgment
upon the principles and policy involved
in the measure, leaving out Of view It's
political or religious bearings. While
do not believe this announcement is
wholly true, for present purposes l &C
cept It as true, and in the exercise OF my
rights IS q citizen aid voter | do not
hesitate to write myself down as thor
oughly and radically opposed to the pro-
posed amendment, both upon principle
and policy. 1 do not believe IN, and shall
never favor any legislation, whether in
the form Of constitutional amend
ments or statutory enactments, which
has the purpose or tendency to destroy
or drive out Of our free and prosperous
country any important article Of COM
merce merely for3sthe reason that few,
or the minority, are in jured by the excess
slve or improper use OF 1t. Should legls-
IRtiOn be enacted upon this principle, not
only whisky AMI other intoXicants would
by law be placed out of the reach of the
people, but morphine, chloroform,
choral, opium and every character of
narcotics, and tobacco and coffee IS well,
should and would share the same fate.
Where such legislation would end it is
impossible to foresee, because it would
be the effort of one class to force upon
all others by law the peculiar views OF
that class as to the proper and correct
habits of life. No civilized country on
the face of the globe has taken such
steps as this, AID it is only in
free America, where communities and
states are disturbed and agiteted over
such a movement, and there it is brought
about by broken down politicians in an
effort to invent something upon which to
rise, and by women who would like to
get rid OF their skirts and don the apparel
of the stronger sex. l am also opposed
to the amendment because / do not
believe:that the evil growing out of the
excessive and improper use of liquors
bears any fair proportion TO the sacrifice
that would result from the adoption and
successful carrying out OF such law.
The moderate and temperate use OF
liquors is not wrong in any sense and
is really healthful source Of pleasure
to q large proportion of the citizenship OF
this country; should this law be enacted
this element of our population would be
put'to great trouble and expense to pro
cure this srticle which benefits as well as
Injuries men. I am also opposed to it
because | do not believe that the sdop-
tien of the amendment will prevent the
excessive use of whisky, but will prevent
its manufacture and the manufacture OF
wines, beer and cider by the people Of
Our state"
Reporter-What would you considel
the best and most feasible method Of
dealing with the liquor question?
Mr.. Finley-I think thai well reg
ulated system of license should be adopt.
ed which would place the sale of intoXi-
cants in responsible hands. This, to my
mind, is the plainest solution of the
trouble. Prohibition, on the other hand,
will merely transfer the business into the
hands of those who are without bond and
wholly irresponsible, and who will moi
hesitate to clandestinely evade the law
When an opportunity favored by more
leisure occurs l shall elaborate my view:
upon this question. For the present
prefer to wait until thei fight fairly opens